Sahil’s father also dismissed allegations that his son was cheated during a mid-semester examination.
The father of IIT-Bombay student Sahil Wakode, who was found dead in his hostel room last week, has alleged that his son was subjected to harassment because he belonged to a Scheduled Caste.
Sahil’s father, Ravindra Wakode, also rejected allegations that his son had cheated during a mid-semester examination, saying the claims should be backed by evidence.
“I had explained to him that he had got admission to IIT and told him to focus on his studies when he told me about these incidents. That was my fault. The investigation should be completed and the accused should be arrested. Action should be taken. They should give evidence and prove the cheating allegations,” Ravindra said.
He also questioned the institute’s statements surrounding the incident and alleged that his son had faced caste-based discrimination.
“It is suspicious that IIT-Bombay has changed its statement. ‘I am of a higher caste and you are of a lower caste’ — he was tortured this way. Sahil should be given justice. Action should be taken under the sections mentioned in the FIR, and against the accused. Doolla and the director Shireesh Kedare should also face action. He was tortured. I trust the Crime Branch,” he said.
Sahil Wakode, 22, a second-year BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found hanging in his hostel room on the Powai campus on September 18 evening, hours after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone to access ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination.